Tailpiece for banjos



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EW RMN Nd dw RLe May- 20, 1924.

' W B ly' WWW 7 5 Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED STATES ROBERT R. PAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TAILPIECE FOR BANJOS.

\ Application feed November` 15, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. PAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tailpieces for Banjos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tail pieces for banjos and the like and hasy for one object to provide in a device of this kind means whereby a member passes upon and equally tensions all of the strings for simultaneously raising their pitch.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus or device ot this kind improved means for anchoring the strings on the tail piece and guard means for covering 'the anchoring means, but permitting the guard means to be raised for placing the ends of the strings in said anchoring means.

Other objectsof the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efficiency of such devices and to provide a device or apparatus of this kind which is durable, economical to manufacture and operate and which will not easily get out of order. l

Another object of the invention is to increase the tension on the bridge which im proves the quality of the tone and holds the bridge firmly in contact with thel diaphragm and prevents the bridge from falling down while playing.

For the accomplishment of these and other objects my improved tail piece comprises, briely stated, a main supporting member formed with an anchor plate secured on the banjo and provided with slotted lugs receiving the ends of the strings. A tension frame pivoted on said plate is constructed to engage and adjustably press upon the strings between said lugs and the banjo bridge; and a guard plate pivoted on said frame covers said lugs and furnishes convenient support for the hand while play- 1n ther objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described, the invention is not limited'to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the'invention as claimed.

In the' accompanying drawing, showing by way of example one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. lis a plan of a `fragment of the banjo Serial No. 515,285.

with my improved tail piece applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the tail piece;

Fig. 3 isa plan of the tail piece;

Fig. 4 is a ragmental side elevation showing the tension frame out of contact with the strings; v

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the tensioning frame pressing upon the strings to raise their pitch;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the main supporting member;

b Fig. 7 is a plan of the supporting mem- Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the frame and guard plate, the latter being closed; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the guard plate removed from the tail piece.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the frame and guard plate, the plate being open; and

1Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the guard p ate.

'Ifhe improved tail piece is shown in combination with abanjo having a frame or shell 5, 'a strain rim 6, a suitably tensioned diaphragm 7, strings 8 and a bridge 9 resting on `the diaphragm.

The tail piece comprises a main supporting member 10 (Fig. 2) formed with an upper anchor plate portion 11 engaging over the diaphragm, an intermediate vertical portion 12 having an outwardly stamped abutment 13 intermediately thereon, and an outwardly horizontally disposed lower portion 14v having a horizontal slot 15 (Fig. 7)4

therein.V Upwardly projecting staggered cylindrical anchoring lugs 18 riveted or otherwise anchored on the top face of said plate portion are provided at the top with narrow longitudinal cuts 19 receiving knotted or looped ends of the stringsl 8 and holding the strings tensioned. f

A bracket 20 (Fig. 5) bolted to said shell below said lower portion has therein a vertical bore receiving a strain bolt 21 having its upper portion disposed: in said slot 15 and having a head 22 (Fig. 2) and jam nut 23 engaging above and below said lower portion 14. Lock nuts 25y and 26 on the Alower end of the strain bolt and engaging tured ears 28 (Figs. 2 and The Yrectangular tension frame 30` is pivoted at a point on each of its side members 31 to the ears 28 for tilting movement, the forward member 32 of this frame being'disposed transversely over the strings about midway between the bridge and said lugs 18, and by tilting movement of the frame being contactible with the strings for pressing downwardly thereon. The 'rear member 33 of the frame is slightly downwardly and rear- Wardly inclined and provided with a rearwardly and slightly downwardly projected lug 34 (Fig. 2) having a threaded hole therein'alined with said abutment 13and receiving a headed thumb bolt 35 engaging said abutment whereby when'the thum'b bolt' is screwed in (Fig. 5) said forwardmember is pressed upon and equallytensiojns' all of the strings vfor thereby simultaneously raisin or lowering the pitch of all of them.

j hen preferred there may bev added a guard plate 38 (F ig. 8) provided at its forward corners 'with-downturned ears' 39 rpivoted to the forward corners "of the tension frame, and having its rear portion 40 slightly downwardly turned tov conform to the tension frame; Said reary portion 40 is provided with yieldable corner clips 41 frictionally embracing the tension frame and an Vintermediate cut-away portion 42 to permit the guard plate to pass the head of the Itension' bolt 35 when theguard pl'a'te is raised (Fig. 9) for lplacing the ends of the strings in said cuts 19 of the lugs. In lthe'eve'nt of breaking a string, the clips 4l may -be released and the guard plate may be swung upwardly on its pivot '39, Fig. 9,`- thus Vexposing the strin s and permittingreplacementr of the lbro en string, without the least disturbingithe tension orfpressure f the frame 30 upon the other strings and the while 'maintaining the otherstring's at the vdii former'desired pitch. When` the new string is in place the guard plate 'maybe returned to covering position and the new strin attuned to the pitch ofthe other' strmgs. The guard plate being continuous protects the hands'from contact with the lugs `and knotted' or looped' ends of the 'strings and furnishes a firm smooth comfortable support for the wrist during playing. It also hides the lugs and impfovesgenerally the appear anceof thetail piece 'I claim as my "invention:

l. The combinationfwiith a banjo, ofy a tail piecef`secured on 'said'banjoanjd comp'rivsin'g VaY body portion having an outstanding" abutment thereon', and an anchor plate provided' with j slotted lugs receiving the ends of the 'stringsfupturned perforatedpivot ear-sten the1-forvvard cornersof'sad plate portion; va rectangular tension* frame havingtisj side membersfintermeiatelypvted on' said' ears', -its-'Jforwardmember disposed a tail piece comprising a main supporting member formed with an upper anchor plate portion engaging over the diaphragm, an

intermediate body portion engaging against the shell and an outwardly horizontally disposed lower portion having a slot therein; means for anchoring the strings on the anchor plate; a bracket bolted to said shell .below saidlower portion and having a bore therein; a strain bolt in said slot and bore having a head and jam nut engaging above and below said lower portion; and a strain nut on the lower end of the strain bolt and engaging said bracket and holding said supporting member in place against the tension of the strings.

3. The combination, with a stringed musical instrument, of an anchoring member operatively secured to the body of the instrumentv having meansfor securing one end` of the strings to said member; a tensioning member arranged for contact with 'the strings for affecting the pitchV thereof; means for moving the tensioning member to tensioning position and retaining it therein; and a' guard member normally covering the tensioning member'and the ends of the strings .and said means for securing them to the anchoring member; theguard' member being movable to uncover the ends of the strings and said means lfor securing them to the anchoring member.v

4. The combination, witha stringed musical instrument, of an anchoring member operatively secured to the body of the instrument having means forsecuring one end of the lstringsto said member; 'a tensioning member mounted on the anchoring member for tilting movement and when'tilted cntactibleV with the strings transversely thereiis of for affecting the pitch of the strings; the i tensioning memberhaving space `for exposing when in tensioning position the'ends of the strings and said means' for securing them to the anchoring ymem'ber;'means for tilting lthe tensioning'member and retaining anchoring member; the guard member being 1.?9

movable to uncover the ends of the strings and said means for securing them to the anchoring member.

5. The combination7 with a stringed musical instrument having a bridge, of an anchoring member operatively secured to the body of the instrument having means for securing one end of the strings to said member; a tensioning member mounted on the anchoring member for tilting movement, one end of the tensioning member when said member is tilted bein contactible with the strings transversely t ereof for downward pressure thereon at a point about midway between the bridge and the means for securing the strings to the anchoring member; the tensioning member having space for exposing when 1n tensioning position, the ends of the strings and said means for securing them to the anchoring member; means for tilting the tensioning member and retaining it in tensioning position; and a guard member pivotally mounted on the tensioning member having means for releasably gripping it thereto; the guard member normally covering the tensioning member and the ends of the strings and the means for securing them to the anchoring member and being movable to uncover the ends of the strings and said means for securing them to the anchoring member.

6. The combination with a banjo, of a tail piece comprising an anchor plate portion secured to the banjo, means for anchoring the strings of the banjo on said plate; a tension frame pivoted on said plate having a downturned rear portion and constructed to engage and adjustably ress upon the strings of the banJo; a headed tension adjusting bolt for said frame; and a guard plate provided at the forward corners with downturned ears pivoted to the forward corners of the tension frame, and having its rear edge portion slightly downwardly turned to conform to the tension frame and having yieldable corner clips embracing the tension frame and an intermediate cut-away portion to permit the uard plate to pass the head of the tension olt when the guard plate is raised for placing the ends of the strings in said anchoring means.

ROBERT R. PAGE. Witnesses H. M. KILPATRICK, H. D. Pimm. 

